Byrd Leavell is a literary agent and the co-head of the publishing department at United Talent Agency.People Round-Up, Early October 2017. Publishing Trends. January 25, 2018.Hayes, Dade UTA Acquires Lit Agency Fletcher & Company. Deadline. January 4, 2023. Previously he was known as a named partner at the Waxman Leavell Literary Agency.
Career Leavell graduated from the University of Virginia and the Radcliffe Publishing Program. In 2012, he partnered with Scott Waxman to form the Waxman Leavell Literary Agency.
As a partner at the Waxman Leavell agency, he oversaw multiple New York Times bestsellers including #1 bestselling books Shit My Dad Says by Justin Halpern.Deahl, Rachel Tucker Max Is Back—With Dating Advice Publishers Weekly. June 24, 2016Kleeman, Sophie This 23-Year-Old Is Writing Her Fairy Tale Memoir Entirely on Instagram Mic. June 22, 2016 Leavell also represents Rob Elliott, whose LOL series has sold more than 2.5 million copies.Lodge, Need a Laugh? Rob Elliott and HarperCollins Have You Covered Publishers Weekly. June 22, 2016 He also represented the anonymous Dutch novel Diary of an Oxygen Thief.Unknown "Oxygen Thief" author becomes self-published success CBS News. June 22, 2016Fleming, Jr., Mike ‘Diary Of An Oxygen Thief’ Sells To S&S Imprint Gallery After Gotham Group Buys Screen Rights Deadline. June 22, 2016 Leavell also represents Cat Marnell, a former Lucky, XoJane and Vice blogger.
In September 2017 he began his employment at UTA. One of the first clients Leavell represented at UTA was comedian and actor Tiffany Haddish. Haddish's memoir, The Last Black Unicorn, was a debut New York Times bestseller, spending each of its first six weeks in print on the list and, as of January 2018, reaching #5 overall.Greene, David. Tiffany Haddish: 'I Know What I'm Supposed To Do Here On This Earth'. NPR. January 25, 2018.Gardner, Chris. Groupon Books Superfan Tiffany Haddish for Super Bowl Ad. Hollywood Reporter. January 25, 2018.Combined Print & E-Book Nonfiction. The New York Times. January 25, 2018.
Over his career, Leavell has frequently been interviewed about publishing trends.
In 2024, Leavell was promoted to Partner at UTA.Kuznikov, Selena UTA Promotes 24 Employees to Partner. Variety. May 16, 2024.
Selected clients According to Publishers Weekly.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Stephen Curry MrBeastMen Don't Read Anymore. Can MrBeast Change That? The Times. January 22, 2026 Tiffany Haddish Rich Paul Jay Chandrasekhar Mark Frauenfelder GloZell Green George Karl Chelsea Handler Larry Charles Drew Magary Cat Marnell Patrick McEnroe Daniel O'BrienEXCLUSIVE: How Comedian Daniel O'Brien Turned One Joke Into A Major Book Deal Forbes. June 22, 2016 John L. Parker, Jr. Carol Moseley Braun Brian Kilmeade Mike Sacks Pete Sampras Scott Sigler Steve Spurrier "Weird Al" Yankovic Guy Raz Adam Savage Mandy Stadtmiller Anthony Sullivan Jorge Cruise Mat Best
References
External links Personal Website Waxman Leavell Literary Agency Linkedin Profile